January 2010. Countrypolitan: Trust in your true nature and wait patiently for alignment.

I met her in a booth at the local Arts Market one stifling summer day. Her lush and intricate paintings with their not-to-be-ignored colors drew me into the vibrant world she had brought to life in such a small space. The themes were compelling: Yogic philosophy, Goddesses, Gaia (the earth viewed as a vast, self-regulating organism), and a mystical view of realistically-depicted flora and fauna complete with waterfalls, richly flowered landscapes, and peeping woodland creatures.

After a thorough perusal and managing to touch nearly every item offered, I chose a bright turquoise plaque which respectfully proclaimed “Namaste” and “Trust in Your True Nature,” and depicted a peaceful, fantastic collage landscape with meditating Quan Yin, Chinese goddess of mercy. On the back was glued a simple card: “Original art by Lori Felix,” the slogan, “Welcome the abundance into your life;” and a web address. Later that day, after hanging the little sign on my front door, I sat at my computer and visited Lori Felix’s website.

In addition to galleries of dreamy and mystical paintings, prints, and assemblages neatly organized by theme, there was a section devoted to Lori’s home, described as “continuing to grow into a work of art.” Being a curious house-o-phile, I happily clicked into the photos of Lori Felix’s private domain. There I saw a charming and sunny little abode—a happy amalgamation of intense colors, shapes, plays of light—every available space filled with harmonious works of art.  “This lady is a Countrypolitan,” I thought to myself.

Some weeks later, our photographer and I bounced along Mississippi back roads, Mapquest directions in hand, toward our interview with the artist in her fanciful house. At the end of a short avenue of towering trees, the simple weathered board-and-batten cottage came into view. A yellow dog lazing on the narrow front porch slowly roused himself and set off to greet us, tail cranking a circle. Lori emerged, a trim little woman dressed as gaily and as visually complex as an original Felix work of art, in a multicolored tunic and heavy artisan jewelry, her raven-black Frida Kahlo hair held back with a tie-dyed scarf.

Ushered through hand-painted front doors and into a vaulted living room, I saw an airy visual playground of color and texture, eminently livable, with comfortable seating, interesting hand-painted fabrics, walls filled with vivid artworks. “I love to trade with other artists,” said Lori, gesturing to one of the paintings. “Most everything here was found abandoned or given to me,” she said of the furnishings. “These curtains and the couch fabric are rust-dyed.” “Actual rust?” I inquired. “Yes,” she answered, “It’s a laborious process but well worth the trouble. Wrap your fabric around a rusty object and saturate it in vinegar. Wrap in plastic to keep it wet. Do this outside, because the vinegar is pungent. Keep turning and wetting with vinegar over a period of a few days, until you have the effect you want. Later I like to paint acrylic designs on the fabric.” She added, “I love to use strips of rust-dyed fabric in my paintings, too.”

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